Audit Evidence

Chapter 7

2010 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing 13/e, Arens/Elder/Beasley

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Learning Objective 1
Contrast audit evidence with evidence used by other

professions.
EVIDENCE : any information used by the auditor to determine whether the
information being audited is stated in accordance with the established criteria.

2010 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing 13/e, Arens//Elder/Beasley

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Nature of Evidence
The use of evidence is not unique to auditors

Evidence is also used by scientists, lawyers,

and historians
all use evidence to help them draw conclusions.

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Learning Objective 2
Identify the four audit evidence decisions that are needed to

create an audit program.

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Audit Evidence Decisions

about what evidence to gather and how much of it to accumulate:

1. Which audit procedures to use

detailed instruction that explains the audit evidence to be obtained during the audit

2. What sample size to select for a given procedure

vary the sample size from one to all the items in the population being tested

3. Which items to select from the population

Methods can be used to select the specific items to be examined

4. When to perform the procedures (timing)

vary from early in the accounting period to long after it has ended. In part, the timing
decision is affected by when the client needs the audit to be completed.
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Audit Program
It includes a list of the audit procedures
the auditor considers necessary.

Sample sizes

Items to select

Timing of the tests

Most auditors use computers to facilitate

the preparation of audit programs.
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Learning Objective 3
Specify the characteristics that determine the persuasiveness

of evidence.

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Persuasiveness of Evidence
Appropriateness
is a measure of the quality of evidence, meaning its relevance and reliability
in meeting audit objectives
selecting audit procedures that Are relevant to the audit objective that the

auditor is testing

when the auditor traced from the duplicate sales invoices to related shipping documents,
the evidence was relevant for the occurrence transaction objective
tracing from shipping documents to sales invoices, the auditor can determine
whether shipments have been billed to customers. Relevant for completeness

Sufficiency
The quantity of evidence obtained determines its sufficiency.

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Six Characteristics of Reliable Evidence

refers to the degree to which evidence can be believable or worthy of trust

1. Independence of provider
Evidence obtained from a source outside the entity is more reliable than
that obtained from within.

2. Effectiveness of clients internal controls

When a client s internal controls are effective, evidence obtained is more
reliable than when they are weak.

3. Auditors direct knowledge

Evidence obtained directly by the auditor through physical examination,
observation, recalculation, and inspection is more reliable than information
obtained indirectly
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4.

Qualification of individuals providing the

information

the individual providing evidence must be qualified

5. Degree of objectivity
Objective evidence is more reliable than evidence that requires considerable
judgment to determine whether it is correct.
the qualifications ofthe person providing the evidence in subjective evidence.

6.

Timeliness

Evidence is usually more reliable for balance sheet accounts when it is

obtained as close to the balance sheet date as possible

For income statement accounts, evidence is more reliable if there is a sample

from the entire period under audit, such as a random sample of sales
transactions for the entire year
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Persuasiveness and Cost

In making decisions about evidence
for a given audit, both persuasiveness
and cost must be considered.

The auditors goal is to obtain a

sufficient amount of appropriate
evidence at the lowest total cost.

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Learning Objective 4
Identify and apply the eight types of evidence used in auditing.

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Types of Audit Evidence

1. Physical examination
2. Confirmation

3. Documentation
4. Analytical procedures
5. Inquiries of the client

6. Recalculation
7. Reperformance
8. Observation
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Physical Examination
the most reliable and useful types of audit evidence

It is the inspection or count by the

auditor of a tangible asset.
This type of evidence is most often
associated with inventory and cash.
verifying that an asset actually exists (existence objective)
verifying existing assets are recorded (completeness objective).

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Confirmation
the receipt of a direct written response from a third party verifying the accuracy of
information that was requested by the auditor.

Information

Source

Assets
Cash in bank
Marketable securities
Accounts receivable
Notes receivable
Owned inventory out on consignment
Inventory held in public warehouses
Cash surrender value of life insurance

Bank
Customer
Maker
Consignee
Public warehouse
Insurance company
Investment custodian

they are a highly regarded and often-used type of evidence . most costly
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Confirmation
Information

Source

Liabilities
Accounts payable
Notes payable
Advances from customers
Mortgages payable
Bonds payable

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Creditor
Lender
Customer
Mortgagor
Bondholder

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Confirmation
Information

Source

Owners Equity
Shares outstanding

Registrar and
transfer agent

Other Information
Insurance coverage
Contingent liabilities
Bond indenture agreements
Collateral held by creditors
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Insurance company
Bank, lender, and
clients legal counsel
Bond holder
Creditor
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Documentation
It is the auditors inspection of the

clients documents and records.

Internal
documents

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External
documents

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Internal document has been prepared and used within the client s
organization and is retained without ever going to an outside party.
Internal documents include duplicate sales invoices, employees time reports,
and inventory receiving reports

External document has been handled by someone outside the client s organization
who is a party to the transaction being documented, but which are either currently
held by the client or readily accessible
vendors invoices, cancelled notes payable, and insurance policies
External one is more reliable than Internal documents
Internal documents created and processed under effective internal control is more
reliable than conditions of weak internal control
Original documents are considered more reliable than photocopies or
facsimiles.
When auditors use documentation to support recorded transactions or amounts, the
process is often called vouching

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Analytical Procedures
use comparisons and relationships to assess whether account balances or
other data appear reasonable compared to the auditor s expectations.

Understand the clients industry and business

(highlighted any changes)

Assess the entitys ability to continue as a

going concern (assess the likelihood of failure)

Indicate the presence of possible misstatements

in the financial statements
Significant unexpected differences. Unusual fluctuations

Reduce detailed audit tests

analytical procedure reveals no unusual fluctuations, this implies the possibility of a
material misstatement is mi nimized. perform fewer detailed tests
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Inquiries of the Client

It is the obtaining of written or oral information
from the client in response to questions
from the auditor.

usually cannot be regarded as conclusive

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Recalculation
It involves rechecking a sample of calculations
made by the client.

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Reperformance
It is the auditors independent tests of client
accounting procedures or controls that
were originally done.

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Observation
It is the use of the senses to assess client activities.
The auditor may tour the plant to obtain a general
impression of the clients facilities.

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Appropriateness of Types of Evidence

Type of evidence
Independence of provider

Effectiveness of clients internal controls

Auditors direct knowledge
Qualifications of provider

Objectivity of evidence

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2010 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing 13/e, Arens//Elder/Beasley

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Types of Evidence and Four Evidence Decisions for

a Balance-Related Audit Objective for Inventory*
Evidence Decisions

Type of Evidence

Audit Procedure

Sample Size

Items to Select

Timing

Observation

Observes clients personnel All count teams

counting inventory to
determine whether they are
properly following instructions

Not applicable

Balance
sheet date

Physical examination

Count a sample of
inventory and compare
quantity and description
to clients counts

120 items

40 items with
large dollar
value, plus 80
randomly
selected

Balance
sheet date

Documentation

Compare quantity on
clients perpetual records
to quantity on clients
counts

70 items

30 items with large

dollar value, plus
40 randomly
selected

Balance
sheet date

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Terms and Types of Evidence

Terms

Type of Evidence

Examine
Scan
Read
Compute
Recompute
Foot
Trace
Compare
Count
Observe
Inquire
Vouch

Documentation
Analytical procedures
Documentation
Analytical procedures
Recalculation
Recalculation
Documentation/Reperformance
Documentation
Physical examination
Observation
Inquiries of client
Documentation

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2010 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing 13/e, Arens//Elder/Beasley

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2010 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing 13/e, Arens//Elder/Beasley

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2010 Prentice Hall Business Publishing, Auditing 13/e, Arens//Elder/Beasley

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Learning Objective 5
Understand the purposes of audit documentation. worki ng papers

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Audit Documentation
Audit documentation is the principal record

of auditing procedures applied, evidence

obtained, and conclusions reached by
the auditor in the engagement.

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Audit Documentation
Purposes of audit documentation
A Basis for Planning the Audit
A Record of the Evidence Accumulated and the Results of the Tests
Data for Determining the Proper Type of Audit Report
A Basis for Review by Supervisors and Partners T

Ownership of audit files

is the property of the auditor.

Confidentiality of audit files

care must be taken to safeguard the audit files at all times.
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Sarbanes-Oxley Act
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires auditors of
public companies to prepare and maintain
audit working papers for a period of no
less than seven years.

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Learning Objective 6
Prepare organized audit documentation.

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Audit File Contents and Organization

Robinson Associates
Trial Balance
12/31/09

Cash
Accounts Receivable
Prepaid Insurance
Interest Receivable

$165,237
275,050
37,795
20,493

Financial Statements
and Audit
Report
Financial
Statements
and Audit
Report
Working
Trial
Balance
Financial
Statements
and Audit
ReportJournal
Adjusting
Entries
Financial
Statements
and AuditContingent
Report
Liabilities
Financial
Statements
and Audit Report
Operations
Financial Statements
and Audit Liabilities
Report
and Equity
Financial
Statements
and Audit Report
Assets
Financial Statements
and Audit Report
Analytical
Procedures
Financial
Statements
and
Audit
Report
Tests of Controls and
Substantive
TOT
Financial
Statements
and
Audit
Report
Internal
Control
Financial
Statements
and
Audit
General Report
Information
Financial
Statements
and
Audit
Report
Audit
Programs
Financial
Statements
and Audit Report
Permanent Files
Financial Statements
and Audit Report

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Permanent Files
These files are intended to contain
data of a historical or continuing
nature pertinent to the current audit.

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Current Files
include all audit documentation applicable to the year under audit.

Audit program
General information

current period information

of a general nature

Working trial balance

listing of the general ledger accounts and their year-end balances.

Adjusting and reclassification entries

summarize all entries that have not been recorded in a separate audit schedule as a
means of assessing their cumulative effect.

Supporting schedules
schedules prepared by the client or the auditors in support of specific amounts
on the financial statements
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Types of Supporting Schedules

Analysis
Trial balance or list
Reconciliation of amounts
Tests of reasonableness

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Types of Supporting Schedules

Summary of procedures
Examination of supporting documents
Informational
Outside documentation

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Preparation of Audit Documentation

Each audit file should be properly identified
Documentation should be indexed and
cross-referenced

Completed documentation must clearly

indicate the audit work performed
It should include sufficient information
It should plainly state the conclusions reached
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Learning Objective 7
Describe how technology affects audit evidence and audit
documentation.

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Effect of Technology
Audit evidence is increasingly in electronic form
Auditors must evaluate how electronic information
affects their ability to gather evidence

Auditors use computers to read and examine

evidence
Software programs are typically Windows-based

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